Bio

Rod C. Taylor, Ph.D. is an award-winning educator, scholar, author, and the founder and CEO of Performance Learning Concepts, a leadership-development firm trusted by global organizations including Deloitte, Nissan North America, Blackstone, and Morningstar. With more than three decades of experience in teaching, leadership training, and public speaking, Rod has taught at Stanford University, Indiana University, and the Honors College at Tennessee State University.

PLC’s work focuses on the human side of professional effectiveness—how individuals build credibility, communicate clearly, think creatively, collaborate effectively, and lead through complexity. Drawing on advanced studies in education, rhetoric, literature, psychology, and philosophy, Rod brings an interdisciplinary perspective to professional growth across areas including strategic communication, innovation and creativity, leadership, and change, helping professionals translate expertise into confident performance in high-stakes environments.

Blending insights from the arts, human behavior, and organizational strategy, Rod designs highly experiential workshops and energetic keynotes on Communication, Design Thinking, Innovation & Creativity, Growth Mindset, and Change Leadership. He has served as a Design Faculty Fellow at the Paris-Est Design School and as an Artist-in-Residence and strategic leadership consultant for the College of Entertainment and Arts at Lipscomb University in Nashville.

A lifelong musician, Rod lives in Nashville, TN, and has performed as a bassist with artists such as Victor Wooten, the Warren Brothers, Jenee Fleenor, Chuck Rainey, Krista Detor, and Cindy Morgan.

Academic Appointments

  • Fall 2026 CSP instructor COM 105, Continuing Studies

Professional Education

  • BS in Ed., Missouri State University, English Education and Psychology (1994)
  • MA, Missouri State University, Literature and Rhetoric (1999)
  • Ph.D., Indiana University, Literature (major); Philosophy (minor) (2007)